1 O death, how bitter is the remembrance of thee to a man that liveth at rest in his possessions, unto the man that hath nothing to vex him, and that hath prosperity in all things: yea, unto him that is yet able to receive meat!

1 O mors, quam amara est memoria tua
homini pacem habenti in substantiis suis:

2 O death, acceptable is thy sentence unto the needy, and unto him whose strength faileth, that is now in the last age, and is vexed with all things, and to him that despaireth, and hath lost patience!

2 viro quieto, et cujus viæ directæ sunt in omnibus,
et adhuc valenti accipere cibum!

3 Fear not the sentence of death, remember them that have been before thee, and that come after; for this is the sentence of the Lord over all flesh.

3 O mors, bonum est judicium tuum homini indigenti,
et qui minoratur viribus,

4 And why art thou against the pleasure of the most High? there is no inquisition in the grave, whether thou have lived ten, or an hundred, or a thousand years.

4 defecto ætate, et cui de omnibus cura est,
et incredibili, qui perdit patientiam!

5 The children of sinners are abominable children, and they that are conversant in the dwelling of the ungodly.

5 Noli metuere judicium mortis:
memento quæ ante te fuerunt,
et quæ superventura sunt tibi:
hoc judicium a Domino omni carni.

6 The inheritance of sinners' children shall perish, and their posterity shall have a perpetual reproach.

6 Et quid superveniet tibi in beneplacito Altissimi?
sive decem, sive centum, sive mille anni:

7 The children will complain of an ungodly father, because they shall be reproached for his sake.

7 non est enim in inferno accusatio vitæ.

8 Woe be unto you, ungodly men, which have forsaken the law of the most high God! for if ye increase, it shall be to your destruction:

8 ¶ Filii abominationum fiunt filii peccatorum,
et qui conversantur secus domos impiorum.

9 And if ye be born, ye shall be born to a curse: and if ye die, a curse shall be your portion.

9 Filiorum peccatorum periet hæreditas,
et cum semine illorum assiduitas opprobrii.

10 All that are of the earth shall turn to earth again: so the ungodly shall go from a curse to destruction.

10 De patre impio queruntur filii,
quoniam propter illum sunt in opprobrio.

11 The mourning of men is about their bodies: but an ill name of sinners shall be blotted out.

11 Væ vobis, viri impii,
qui dereliquistis legem Domini Altissimi!

12 Have regard to thy name; for that shall continue with thee above a thousand great treasures of gold.

12 Et si nati fueritis, in maledictione nascemini:
et si mortui fueritis, in maledictione erit pars vestra.

13 A good life hath but few days: but a good name endureth for ever.

13 Omnia quæ de terra sunt in terram convertentur:
sic impii a maledicto in perditionem.

14 My children, keep discipline in peace: for wisdom that is hid, and a treasure that is not seen, what profit is in them both?

14 Luctus hominum in corpore ipsorum:
nomen autem impiorum delebitur.

15 A man that hideth his foolishness is better than a man that hideth his wisdom.

15 Curam habe de bono nomine:
hoc enim magis permanebit tibi
quam mille thesauri pretiosi et magni.

16 Therefore be shamefaced according to my word: for it is not good to retain all shamefacedness; neither is it altogether approved in every thing.

16 Bonæ vitæ numerus dierum:
bonum autem nomen permanebit in ævum.

17 Be ashamed of whoredom before father and mother: and of a lie before a prince and a mighty man;

17 ¶ Disciplinam in pace conservate, filii:
sapientia enim abscondita, et thesaurus invisus,
quæ utilitas in utrisque?

18 Of an offence before a judge and ruler; of iniquity before a congregation and people; of unjust dealing before thy partner and friend;

18 Melior est homo qui abscondit stultitiam suam,
quam homo qui abscondit sapientiam suam.

19 And of theft in regard of the place where thou sojournest, and in regard of the truth of God and his covenant; and to lean with thine elbow upon the meat; and of scorning to give and take;

19 Verumtamen reveremini in his quæ procedunt de ore meo:

20 And of silence before them that salute thee; and to look upon an harlot;

20 non est enim bonum omnem reverentiam observare,
et non omnia omnibus bene placent in fide.

21 And to turn away thy face from thy kinsman; or to take away a portion or a gift; or to gaze upon another man's wife;

21 Erubescite a patre et a matre de fornicatione:
et a præsidente et a potente de mendacio:

22 Or to be overbusy with his maid, and come not near her bed; or of upbraiding speeches before friends; and after thou hast given, upbraid not;

22 a principe et a judice de delicto:
a synagoga et plebe de iniquitate:

23 Or of iterating and speaking again that which thou hast heard; and of revealing of secrets.

23 a socio et amico de injustitia,
et de loco in quo habitas:

24 So shalt thou be truly shamefaced, and find favour before all men.

24 de furto, de veritate Dei, et testamento:
de discubitu in panibus, et ab obfuscatione dati et accepti:

25 a salutantibus de silentio,
a respectu mulieris fornicariæ,
et ab aversione vultus cognati.

26 Ne avertas faciem a proximo tuo,
et ab auferendo partem et non restituendo.

27 Ne respicias mulierem alieni viri,
et ne scruteris ancillam ejus,
neque steteris ad lectum ejus.

28 Ab amicis de sermonibus improperii:
et cum dederis, ne improperes.